A dog’s day at the fair

Participants show their pooches

By Blythe Alspaugh - For the Daily Call

Anthony Weber | Civitas Media Daphka Peters participated in several classes with her dog, Harley, a shih tzu mix, during the Junior Fair Dog Obedience Show along with the Junior Fair Dog Grooming and Showmanship Show Saturday at the 2016 Miami County Fair. Daphka is the daughter of Heath and Betsy Peters.

TROY — Despite the overcast skies and threat of rain, the Dog Grooming and Showmanship Show at the Miami County Fair drew a crowd Saturday afternoon as participants showed off the best of their best friends.

Serenity Mullins is an 11-year-old from Dayton and a first-year member of the Monroe Muttlies 4-H club. Her parents are Janelle and Spencer Mullins and her border collie, Neo, competed in the obedience and showmanship shows.

Her favorite part of participating in 4-H has been forging a bond with Neo, not just as pet and owner, but also as friends.

“It can’t be perfect all the time — there’s some mess-ups,” Mullins said. “But I’ve also learned that it is really fun to do. It’s just a blast.”

Nathan Alspaugh, 13, of Tipp City, competed in Pre-Novice Obedience and Intermediate B Showmanship with his boxer/Jack Russell terrier-mix, Lexi. The son of Rachel and Philip Alspaugh, he belongs to Perfect Paws 4-H club.

This is his third year competing in 4-H and for him, the most rewarding part has been getting to spend time with Lexi every day.

“This stuff looks easy, but it isn’t. You have to put a lot of time and work with your dog, but it’s a lot of fun spending time with them,” Alspaugh said.

A six-year participant in 4-H, 17-year-old Anastasia Minnich hails from Troy and is the daughter of Lori Minnich. She is a member of the Perfect Paws 4-H Club and participated in the Pre-Novice and Senior B Showmanship Show with her Lab mix, Oliver.

Spending time with her best friend has been a rewarding part of Minnich’s time in 4-H, but the best part goes deeper.

“He trusts me, and I know he’s okay being around me,” Minnich said. “We both have fun together.”

Anthony Weber | Civitas Media Daphka Peters participated in several classes with her dog, Harley, a shih tzu mix, during the Junior Fair Dog Obedience Show along with the Junior Fair Dog Grooming and Showmanship Show Saturday at the 2016 Miami County Fair. Daphka is the daughter of Heath and Betsy Peters.

https://www.dailycall.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2016/08/web1_160813aw_Fair_Dog_feature_1658.jpgAnthony Weber | Civitas Media Daphka Peters participated in several classes with her dog, Harley, a shih tzu mix, during the Junior Fair Dog Obedience Show along with the Junior Fair Dog Grooming and Showmanship Show Saturday at the 2016 Miami County Fair. Daphka is the daughter of Heath and Betsy Peters.